Whereas regional hospital districts are empowered to direct capital funding grants only to hospitals and hospitals facilities named by the Ministry of Health; And whereas rural, remote and Indigenous communities often rely upon community health clinics for medical care in the absence of any nearby health-authority owned and operated facilities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of BC review the Hospital District Act to provide enhanced authority to regional hospital districts to direct capital and operational grants to non-profit community health clinics and centres in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
Ministry of Infrastructure Under the Hospital District Act, facilities eligible to receive capital funding by regional hospital districts are hospitals designated under the Hospital District Act, hospital facilities used or supplied in conjunction with hospitals, or facilities designated as health facilities under section 49 of the Hospital District Act. The Hospital District Act, as the legislative framework for the roles and responsibilities of regional hospital districts, enables districts to contribute to capital costs for the Provinces hospitals and designated health facilities. When there is an opportunity to amend the Hospital District Act, the review of regional hospital district roles and responsibilities and facilities eligible to receive funding from districts could be considered.